RA candidates square off
By Claire Compton
The Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners hosted the first forum for Reston Association Board candidates on Monday night.
Four candidates are running for two seats; Cheryl Beamer is running for reelection against John Bowman for the Hunters Woods/Dogwood position and Richard Chew is running against Barbara Zicari for the At-Large seat being vacated by Bill Keefe.
ARCH provided the questions to the candidates beforehand in order for them to prepare answers. The forum was moderated by Robert Goudie and attended by nearly 25 people.
The questions ranged from Reston self-governance, to style of leadership, to the closed executive sessions the RA board holds after regular meetings.
The candidates stressed the need for continued and improved communication between the membership and the board, through outreach and transparency.
Beamer, the sole current board member, lauded the relatively new Newcomer's Night events, held twice a year to introduce the RA and its functions to new residents.
“I could see having the newcomer's meeting on a monthly basis,” she said.
Beamer also advocates a full-time, professionally staffed planning and zoning department.
Her opponent, Bowman, has been involved in the Park and Ride Neighbors' efforts, which opposed the secrecy in proposed public-private partnerships on the park-and-ride lot on Lawyers Road and Reston Parkway.
His drive for transparency has translated into his run for the RA board. He said the RA should increase communication on two fronts; online, with the inclusion of documents that are presented at committee and board meetings, and through outreach to members who may not be as technically savvy.
“We need to ensure there are enough artifact documents if a citizen wants to go on to the website and learn about the issues,” he said.
One of the questions centered on additional recreational facilities for the RA, which have been advocated for by members who support an indoor tennis facility.
Chew described a more aggressive tactic for preserving and expanding both facilities and Reston's “number one asset” -- its open spaces.
“We must develop a comprehensive fund strategy, including strategic partnerships and debt financing,” he said.
Zicari, a mother of two and newcomer to Reston, said she was motivated to run because of the great amenities and facilities Reston offers, and hopes to help maintain that.
“I'd like to see us move forward with the recreational facility plan,” she said.
The RA will be holding two question-and-answer forums for the candidates. The first will be on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. at 1930 Isaac Newton Square and a second will be held Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods.